Martial Arts Law

Liability: Do you know when you are liable for injuries to your students? Check out the picture and if you don’t know who could be liable if a spectator or a participant is hurt with the sharp steel “live” swords, call me immediately at 703.764.9080 or email me at info@karatelaw.com.

Releases: Do you use a release for your students right now? How about any guests or visitors? How about any participants at any tournaments you might sponsor? If you do, do the signed releases assure you that the people are in good health? Do the releases vary for each category? If not, do you know why they should or should not be the same? If you aren’t sure or don’t know call me immediately at 703.764.9080 or email me at info@karatelaw.com.

Promotions: Do you promote other school’s tournaments? Do you sign a contract with the school to do that? What should that contract contain? Do you have a “school team” that travels around doing exhibitions? Do you have your team members or their parents sign releases so they can travel? What about medical powers of attorney for the minor children on the team? If you aren’t sure or don’t know call me immediately at 703.764.9080 or email me at info@karatelaw.com

Tournaments: Do your contracts with your sponsors provide guarantees that they will not withdraw at the last minute? How about your contracts with your site hosts? If they do back out, what are your remedies? Do you have to post a bond or sign a guarantee against damages? Can you get attorney’s fees if you have to hire an attorney to protect your interests? If you aren’t sure or don’t know call me immediately at 703.764.9080 or email me at info@karatelaw.com.

Discrimination: What are your rights and obligations with regard to race/gender/age discrimination? Many schools unintentionally discriminate against older students, and women and may be open to legal troubles. What are your school’s rights and obligations if a prospective student tells you that s/he has HIV or AIDS or another communicable disease? What are the rights and obligations of the prospective student? How about if it is a student already in your classes? What about the rights and obligations of your other students? If you aren’t sure or don’t know call me immediately at 703.764.9080 or email me at info@karatelaw.com.

Fighting: Have you or one of your students ever gotten into a fight? At school? At work? On the street? In a bar? Did you (or your student) use the skills taught at your school? Were kicks used? Was it a Black Belt? Are the police involved? What are the school’s responsibilities and obligations? What are the owners? The instructors? The person involved? How can you properly defend yourself in the Courts? If you aren’t sure or don’t know call me immediately at 703.764.9080 or email me at info@karatelaw.com.